Otherworldly Merchant
Chapter 504: Heshibi

I didn’t talk, but slowly limpedtowardhim. Withthelast bit of my strength, I took out a talisman and palmed it on him. Zhou Tian shook a little bit when Ihithim.

“What are you doing?” He was puzzled.

“No… Nothing.”

He was the real Zhou Tian. I exhaled in relief. My eyes rolled to the back of myhead, andI lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I found myself ina hospitalbed. I was the onlypersoninthepatient room. I sat upand shookmy heavy head, realizingthat I had fainted due to blood loss.

I didn’t know how long I had been sleepingorwhat had happened duringthetime I was knocked out, soI felt really worried.

If that otherworldly itemattackedwhile I was in the hospital, Zhou Tian must haveencounteredgrave danger.

I decided to getout ofbed, butI feltasharp paininmyfeet. I lifted the blanket and saw that both of my feet were bandaged.

“Damn it!”Aflame of anger burned in my heart. I punched the wall.

Hurting thesoles ofyourfeetwasdifferent from having a wound elsewhere.IfIcouldn’t walk,Iwouldn’t be different from a wolf without fangs.Icould only wait for death.

I understood that I couldn’t finish this casealone. I decided to call ChuyiandSenior Shuand ask for their help,butI couldn’t find my mobile phone anywhere.I was at a loss and didn’t know what to do.

Then, the door to my room waspushed open, and aman wearing alabcoat entered. He wore a pair of thick glasses and a big surgical mask. Hesmiledwhen he saw me.

I could see only his eyes, but I noticed a trace of maliciousintentinthem. I suddenly had a bad premonition. I hurried to grab the fruit knife on my bedside table and asked,“Who are you?”

“Umh…”He looked embarrassedwhenhe sawthat I wasstirred up.“Someone sent you an express delivery parcel. I’m here to give it to you.”

Then, he moved a big carton box into the room and left.

I exhaled in relief. Although I still felt something was wrong, I couldn’t point out whatit was.I didn’t think muchof it and triedto get off my bed to open the box.

Whosentthis box to me?BesidesZhou Tian’s family,didsomeone else knowthat I washospitalized?

My intuition told me that this boxdidn’t contain anythinggood. However, my curiosity got the best of me. I couldn’t helpbut usethe fruit knife to open the carton box.

I was shocked at first glanceas the bronze box was inside the carton box!

I now remembered what it was that made me feeluneasy. That doctor must be theculpritbehindall this. Perhaps I had met him before.That waswhy he wore a mask when he cameinto myroom.

But why did he want to return the otherworldly item to me?

Before I could figure out the reason, my chestfelt heavy.Iloweredmy head andsawthespiritgetting out of the box. It had turned into a red mistand surroundedme.

Soon, everything in front of mebecameblood red. My entire body was in pain. I couldn’t breathe,and I felt my vitality being sucked away.

AsI thought I was about to die, the pressure on my body disappeared. I was surprisedto see thatthe mist had transformed into a human shadowand fledthrough the open window.

Then, I heard hurried footsteps outside. The door sprang open again. This time,it was Chuyi. He had cometomyrescue!

When I saw him, I felta lot better.I wanted to greet him, but I was too weak to get up. I couldn’t even make a sound. I tried my best to squeeze out asmile.

Chuyi’s sword-like brows slammed together when he sawmy state.When henoticedthe box next to me, his eyes immediatelyturned tothe window.

He shouted, “Stay here, don’t move.”

Then, he jumped through the window like a lightning bolt.

After Chuyi left, Zhou Tian came in. He carefully walked over the bronze box, then lifted me to the bed.Next, he took my phone out of his pocketand gaveit back to me.

Ilooked at him, and heunderstoodwhat I meant. He smiled and toldme the details. I had been unconscious for one night and one day. During this time, Zhou Tian went to pick up Chuyi.

It turned out Chuyi had recently wanted to release around one thousand caged animals tocollect good karma. He wanted to take me with him, so he tried calling me. However, Zhou Tianpicked upthe callin my stead and toldhim everything. As such, Chuyi immediately came over to help me.

Zhou Tian couldn’t help but praise him. “Master Zhang, your friend’s reallyincredible. When hereachedthe corridor, he alreadyknew thatthespirit wasin your ward…”

“Haha.”I felt much more at ease now.

That spiritwas hurt last night, so it didn’t trouble Zhou Tian. Today, it came to kill me but Chuyi interfered. Wasthis fate?

I guessed so.

Around half an hour later, Chuyi returned. He didn’t look pleasedand soundeda little frustrated. “That thing ran too fast. I couldn’t catch up with it.”

“You’re too intimidating.He was soscaredthathe ran for his life!” I could joke nowthatmy strengthhadrecovered a bit.

I got offthebed and went to open the bronze box.After I gaveChuyi the gold-threaded handkerchief and the piece of broken jade, Istopped smiling and said seriously,“This is the otherworldly item. Do yourecognizeit?”

Chuyi didn’t answer me right away. At first, he studied the gold-threaded handkerchief. Then, his cold eyes assessed the jade, his face quicklyturningserious.

When I sawhis reaction, my heart became tense. Zhou Tian also didn’tdare to breathe aloud. The two of usnervously watched Chuyi.

A moment later, he said, “I got it!”

“What is it?”

“This is Heshibi!” Chuyi showedanexcited face for the first time. Hisfair-skinned, oval faceflushed with color.

I couldn’thide my shock, either. Inever would have imaginedthat this ordinary-looking jade was the legendary Heshibi. It wasMr. He’s jade!

However, my enthusiasm soon disappeared. I thought Chuyi was wrong.

I didn’t doubt his keen eyes, butaccording to historicalrecords, after the Kingdom ofQin destroyed the six other kingdoms, Emperor Qin Shihuang orderedhis mento carve the Heirloom Seal of therealm out of the Heshibi.

From that day on, the Heirloom Sealbecamethe supreme symbol of the emperor. Generations competed for it before it disappeared in the long river of history.

Even though it wasalong time ago, the Heirloom Seal shouldn’t bethis low-quality piece of jade.

Chuyi understood my doubts and explained, “Heshibi was a perfectandflawless jade, but the Heirloom Sealdidn’t consume the whole thing. If I’m not wrong, this otherworldly item is the jade that was left after they made the Heirloom Seal.”

“It’s possible,” Zhou Tiansaid. He strokedthe broken jade. “It looks like the extra material left after something was made out of it.”

Chuyi nodded. “Do you know Bianhe, the man who lived in the Spring and Autumn Period?”

“I do.Bianhe sailed to theWest. He’s ineverytextbook.” Before I could answer, Zhou Tian spoke.He even smiled at Chuyi to earn his favor. It seemed he had become Chuyi’s new fan.

I felt awkwardand let outa dry cough. I correctedhim.“Zheng He was the one that sailed West. Bianhe was the first onein historyto discoverHeshibi.”

Then, I suddenlyrealized something and askedChuyi in fright,“Are you saying thatBianhe’s thespirit?”

“Yeah. Otherwise, how could you explain his legless shape?” Chuyisaidfirmly.

I remembered the story now.

It was said thatBianhe was a very hard-working farmerwho lived inthe ChuKingdom during the Spring and Autumn Period. One day, he found a stone that contained an uncut jade.He offered it to King Li of Chu. King Li asked jade experts to assess the stone. Theyconcludedthat it was just a stone. King Li was angryand accusedBianheoffoolinghim. Bianhe’s punishment for his apparent deception wasamputation of hisleft foot.

Soon, King Li died, andKing Wu took the throne. Bianheofferedthis rough jade to him. King Wu also asked jade experts to examine the jade.The result was the same.It was just a stone. King Wu punishedBianhe’sdeception by chopping off his right foot…

After King Wupassed away, King Wen took the throne. Bianhe held hisjade and criedfor three days at a mountain foothill. When his tears dried, his eyes startedbleeding. King Wen heard his storyand senthis people to askhim a question.“There are many peoplewho have receivedthe foot amputation punishment, butthey didn’tbecome like this. Whyare you desperate?”

Bianhe answered, “I’m notcryingbecause oftheamputation.I’mcryingbecause peoplehave said thatmy jade is just a stone. The future generations willnever be able to see this precious jade!”

King Wen asked people to cut the stone. Indeed, the stone contained a crystal of magnificent jade. King Wen then named the jade‘Heshibi.’

Later on, Emperor Qin ShihuangreceivedHeshibiand madehis Heirloom Seal out of it. They carved a linethat wrote, “Having received the Heavenly Mandate, may (the emperor) lead a long and prosperous life.” This imperial sealbecamethe symbol of the emperors of all dynasties.

I had to admitthatChuyihad sharpeyes. Thatspiritdidn’t havefeetand he cried every time. These features matched Bianhe. However, I didn’t understand why Bianhehad become a spirit. After all,Heshibiwas now well-known all over the nation.Moreover, who was that old man? Why did he want to use the otherworldly item to kill Zhou Tian?

I threw these questionsatChuyi. He rubbed his temples and thought for a moment. Then, he picked up the gold-threaded handkerchiefand studiedit carefully.

I understood that Bianhe’s actions probably had something to do with this gold-threaded handkerchief!

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